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Barbados - Relations with U.S. (Notes)

U.S.-BARBADIAN RELATIONS In 1751, George Washington visited Barbados as a young man, making what is believed to have been his only trip abroad. The U.S. Government has been represented on Barbados since 1823. From 1956 to 1978, the United States operated a naval facility in Barbados. The United States and Barbados have had friendly bilateral relations since Barbados independence in 1966. The United States has supported the governments efforts to expand the countrys economic base and to provide a higher standard of living for its citizens. Barbados is a beneficiary of the U.S. Caribbean Basin Initiative. U.S. assistance is channeled primarily through multilateral agencies such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) office in Bridgetown. In May 1997, Prime Minister Owen Arthur hosted President Clinton and 14 other Caribbean leaders during the first-ever U.S.-regional summit in Bridgetown, Barbados. The summit strengthened the basis for regional cooperation on justice and counter narcotics issues, finance and development, and trade. Barbados receives counternarcotics assistance and is eligible to benefit from the U.S. militarys exercise-related and humanitarian assistance construction program. Barbados and U.S. authorities cooperate closely in the fight against narcotics trafficking and other forms of transnational crime. In 1996, the United States and Barbados signed a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) and an updated extradition treaty covering all common offenses, including conspiracy and organized crime. A maritime law enforcement agreement was signed in 1997. A popular tourist destination, Barbados had around 570,000 tourists in 2006, mainly cruise ship visitors. The majority of tourists are from the U.K., Germany, the Caribbean, and the United States. An estimated 3,000 Americans reside in the country. Principal U.S. Embassy Officials Ambassador--Mary M. Ourisman Deputy Chief of Mission--Mary Ellen T. Gilroy Political/Economic Counselor--Martina Strong (Acting) Consul General--Clyde Howard Jr. Regional Labor Attaché--Martina Strong Economic-Commercial Affairs--Anthony Eterno Public Affairs Officer--Julie OReagan Peace Corps Director--Kate Raftery The U.S. Embassy in Barbados is located in the Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael (tel: 246-436-4950; fax: 246-429-5246). Other Contact Information U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration Office of Latin America and the Caribbean 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20230 Tel: 202-482-1658, 800-USA-Trade Fax: 202-482-0464 Caribbean/Latin American Action 1818 N Street, NW Suite 310 Washington, DC 20036 Tel: 202-466-7464 Fax: 202-822-0075